Permanent lock for loose leaf binders



Patented Mar. 20, 1934- 'NITD STATES PATENT OFFICE PERMANENT LOCK FORLOOSE LEAF BINDERS tion of Massachusetts Application May 18-, 1933,Serial No. 671,611

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a mechanism for permanently locking the pintleslides of a loose leaf record binder against movement after the binderhas been filled and no further need exists for removal or addition ofsheets to the contents of the book.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple and eflicientlocking mechanism that will permanently prevent movement of the pintleslides in the sheaths after the pintle slides have been moved to apredetermined position. It is a further object or" this invention toprovide a permanent locking mechanism that will be foolproof andtamperproof. It is a further object of this invention to provide apermanent locking mechanism that may be readily assembled and will bepositive in its action. Other objects of this invention will becomeapparent upon reading the following specification taken in conjunctionwith P}? the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a loose leaf binder embodying myinvention with parts broken away to facilitate the illustration;

I Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional View through the sheath showingthe pintle slide in open position;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the sheath showing thepintle slide in'closed position;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the sheath showing thepintle slide in permanently locked position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the permanent lockspring; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the permanentlock spring.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 2 designates a back member havingcovers 3 hinged on opposite edges thereof as indicated at 4. A metalsheath 5 is secured to the back member 2 along each longitudinal edgethereof. The metal sheaths 5 are provided with a plurality of notches 6adapted to receive a plurality of posts 7 upon which the loose sheets 8are impaled. The posts 7 are apertured at each end, as indicated at 9,Figure 1.

Each sheath 5 is provided with a pintle slide 10 longitudinally movablewithin said sheath. 5{) The upper edge of the slide 10 is notched, asindicated at 11, Figures 2, 3 and 4, to provide a plurality of pintles12 adapted to bridge the notches 6 of the sheath 5. When the pintleslides 10 are in closed position, as shown in Figure 3, the pintles 12are engaged with the apertures 9 of the posts 7 and securely hold thesheets 8 within the binder.

In order to release either end of the posts 7 the pintle slide 10holding that end of the posts is pulled outwardly by means of a fingerpiece 13. The outward movement of the pintle slide 10 is limited by apin or stud 14 which extends transversely across the sheath 5. Thepintle slide 10 is notched, as indicated at 15, Figures 2, 3 and 4, topermit a limited longitudinal movement of the pintle slide 10 within thesheath 5. The finger piece 13 abuts against the end of the sheath 5, asshown in Figure 3, to limit the normal inward movement of the pintleslide 10.

The finger piece 13 is secured to the pintle slide 10 by means of ascrew 16. The screw 16 and finger piece 13 are removable so that thepintle slide 10 may be moved inward beyond its normal limit of travelwhen it is desired to lock the binde" permanently. This is generallydesirable after the binder has been completely filled and it is nolonger necessary to remove or insert any of the sheets. The removablefinger piece 13 is provided to prevent accidental permanent lockingbecause when the binder is permanently locked it cannot 30 be opened byanyone without destruction of the binder.

The lower edge of the pintle slide 10 is notched, as indicated at 17. Abent spring 18 is adapted to be received in the notch 1'7. The spring 18may be welded or riveted to the pintle slide 10, but such securement isnot necessary. The spring 18 fits snugly in the recess formed by thenotch 17 and the adjacent walls of the sheath 5 so that it cannot becomedisplaced from its proper position under any circumstances.

The lowermost arm of the spring 18 is provided with a downwardly bentmember 19 which is constantly pressed against the bottom of the sheath 5and is adapted to spring into an aperture 20 in the bottom wall of thesheath to lock the pintle slide 10 permanently. The edge of the sheathadjacent the aperture 20 constitutes an integral stop beyond which themember 19 cannot be forced. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 the normallimits of travel of the pintle slide 10 do not permit the engagement ofthe member 19 with the aperture 20 so that the finger piece 13 must beremoved before the pintle slide 10 can be permanently locked.

A plate member 21 is welded or permanently secured to the bottom of thesheath 5 in any suitable manner to cover the aperture 20 to make thespring inaccessible after the device has been assembled so thattampering with the permanent 119 lock is impossible. One end of thesheath 5 is closed, as indicated at 22, Figures 2, 3 and 4:, to preventthe possibility of the pintle slide 10 being pulled out through thatend. The spring 18 has sufiicient shearing resistance to prevent anyonefrom pulling the pintle slide 10 out of the sheath 5 in the oppositedirection.

The spring 23, shown in Figure 6 is the same as the spring 18 exceptthat it is round instead of flat. The end of the lowermost arm of thespring 23 is bent downwardly as indicated at 24:, Figure 6.

If desired, a projection may be struck or pressed from the bottom Wallof the sheath 5 as a substitute for the aperture 20. The projection ispreferably of ratchet tooth shape so that the member 19 or 24 may easilyride over it in one direction. The other face of the projection will besteep enough to form a stop over which the spring pressed member 19 or24 cannot pass.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention in detail,it will be understood that the description thereof is illustrativerather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changedWithout departing from the spirit or scope of my invention. Accordingly,I do not desire to be restricted to the exact construction describedexcept as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath, a stop integral with said sheath, apintle slide movable in said sheath, and an unattached spring movable*in said sheath and engageable with said stop to permanently lock saidpintle slide against movement in said sheath.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath provided with an aperture in itsbottom wall, a pintle slide movable in said sheath, an unattached springadapted to engage with said aperture to permanently lock said pintleslide against movement in said sheath, and means to prevent accidentalengagement of said spring with said aperture.

3. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath provided with an aperture in itsbottom wall, a pintle slide movable in said sheath and a springassociated with said pintle slide and movable therewith in said sheath,said spring being unattached to said pintle slide, and one end of saidspring being movable into said aperture to permanently lock said pintleslide against movement in said sheath.

4. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath provided with an aperture in itsbottom wall, a pintle slide movable in said sheath, removable means torestrict the normal movement of said pintle slide-in one direction to apredetermined limit, and an unattached spring movable into engagementwith said aperture when said pintle slide is moved beyond its normallimit to permanently lock said pintle slide against movement in saidsheath.

5. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath provided with an aperture in itsbottom wall, a pintle slide movable in said sheath, removable means torestrict the normal movement of said pintle slide in one direction to apredetermined limit, an unattached spring having one end adapted toengage with said aperture when said pintle slide is moved beyond itsnormal limit to lock said pintle slide against movement in said sheath,and a fixed plate member covering said aperture to prevent tamperingwith said spring.

6. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath, a pintle slide in said sheath, saidpintle slide having a notch in one edge, and an unattached springretained in said notch and adapted to move in said sheath with saidpintle slide, one end of said spring being bent downwardly and pressedagainst the bottom of said sheath, the bottom of said sheath beingapertured to receive said downwardly bent end of said spring when saidpintle slide is moved to a predetermined position to permanetiy loci:said pintle slide against movement in said sheath.

'1. In a loose leaf binder, a sheath, a pintle slide in said sheath, oneedge of said pintle slide being notched, an unattached spring retainedin said notch and adapted to move in said sheath with said pintle slide,said spring having one end means to increase the travel of said pintleslide in one direction beyond said normal limits to cause saiddownwardly bent end of said spring to engage said aperture topermanently lock said pintle slide against movement in said sheath.

GEORGE J. RUNDBLAD.

